Hi. I am not a nurse but a concerned parent of a half year old baby. I was searching online about the necessity of heel sticks and this is where I got to since the "heel sticks" topic is closed I will leave my comment here.
My baby was not a premature baby, she was just born with typical mild jaundice. So at the hospital she was taken away to test levels. I asked the nurse about what she will do and she said don't worry it is just a little prick in the foot. Okay. Three days later at the doctor's office they decided to retest levels. The technician or nurse who did it took MINUTES and it was not a "LITTLE PRICK."
I was devastated. My poor baby crying in AGONY. I didn't know what to do but ask do you really need that much blood. I am still traumatized about this experience. I am traumatized. WHAT ABOUT MY BABY???!! My poor baby crying in AGONY.
I had no idea about this to save her as this is my first baby.
If I knew about this "hell prick" I would NEVER EVER allow any nurse or anyone else for that matter to do that to my baby.
There has to be a BETTER WAY to obtain a blood sample.
And after reading some of these NICU patient comments I am devastated for these poor poor babies.
Please as nurses don't allow yourself to do this procedure if you are not good at it. Truth hurts, but you are really making these babies suffer. And I want to let you know I am angry at your profession for this. You have to find a right way to do this. It is unacceptable that these babies should suffer so much!! I want to scream and cry at the same time.